DIMO and its long-standing partner Mahindra Tractors recently completed a project executed for the betterment of the local farmer community (Govidanadivisuvapinisa) during this difficult time, while also boosting Maha season activities.
Through this three-month project, 250 acres of land have been prepared, benefiting over 165 farmers, who were in dire need of land preparation and lacked financial access to machinery. It is indeed encouraging to note that this project has successfully attained greater financial savings for the farming community.
DIMO approached the farming communities in Monaragala, Kilinochchi, Dambulla and Anuradhapura for this project in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture. DIMO identified a pressing concern faced by the farmers due to high land preparation costs which have been increased three-fold in the recent past, and further burdened by the increased fuel prices.
DIMO and Mahindra Tractors provided farmers with Mahindra tractors, implants such as rotovators, disc ploughs, tine tillers, and fuel required for land preparation. While the Paddy farmers in Dambulla, Anuradhapura and Kilinochchi were assisted via this project, the maize farmers in Moneragala were also assisted with land preparation for the Maha Season.
President, Bellanneoya Farmer Society in Dambulla, Serasinghe Bandara said, “Today, the farming community faces many challenges. Despite these challenges DIMO has come forward with Mahindra Tractors to support the farmer community in land preparation as a social service. We believe that this initiative will be of immense empowerment for the farmer community to face these economic challenges successfully.”
Several other farming communities also expressed their sincere gratitude to DIMO and Mahindra Tractors for successfully completing the project and helping them, while overcoming many challenges and obstacles including the unfavourable weather during the Maha season.